Awareness of Children Dying in Hot Cars Rises Dramatically
Over Warm Weather Months, New Survey Finds

WASHINGTON -- Aug. 28, 2014: A new national
survey released today shows that public awareness of the dangers of leaving
young children alone in hot vehicles has risen dramatically -- by nearly 25
percent -- since the start of the summer.

The survey, conducted online from August 8-13 by Public Opinion
Strategies, found that 85 percent of the respondents had seen, read, or
heard "a lot" or "some" about children suffering from heatstroke in
vehicles, compared to 69 percent in a survey released by Safe Kids
Worldwide in April. Significantly, the percentage of those seeing, reading,
and hearing "a lot" jumped from 20 percent to 37 percent, while those
seeing, reading, and hearing "nothing at all" dropped from 10 percent to 5
percent.

Most of the 95 percent who have some awareness of the issue recall
stories in the news media about parents who left children in the car while
shopping, or while going to bars, beauty salons or casinos. This summer,
there has been a great deal of attention about a Georgia father who was
charged with homicide for leaving his child in a hot car, with some
recalling several details about the case.

The survey also showed that there was also a substantial increase in
awareness for parents and those who transport young children, from 72
percent to 85 percent. In this category, 38 percent now have a high level
of knowledge about the child safety issue.

The survey was commissioned by the Alliance of Automobile
Manufacturers.

Since record keeping began in 1998, at least 629 young children, most
three years of age and younger, have died in hot cars, primarily when left
in the vehicle by a parent or caregiver or by being trapped after gaining
access to an unlocked car.

So far this year, there have been 23 child deaths in hot cars. By this
time in 2013, one of the worst years on record, 32 children had died. The
annual average since 1998 is 38.

"The increased level of awareness is very encouraging," said
meteorologist Jan Null of San Jose State University, who has helped raise
awareness of these tragedies and maintains the most complete data on the
subject. "Media attention to high profile incidents this year and enhanced
prevention campaigns by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration,
Safe Kids Worldwide and others have been effective in educating the public,
which certainly has saved children's lives. We must continue these efforts
to translate the heightened awareness into safer behavior by caregivers and
more attention by bystanders who see children in danger and inform public
safety officials."

"Many people are shocked to learn that the temperature inside of a car
can rise 20 degrees in 10 minutes. And cracking the window doesn't help,"
said Kate Carr, president and CEO of Safe Kids Worldwide. "We know that the
best way to protect children from this very preventable tragedy is by
raising awareness and educating parents, caregivers and bystanders. This
new research shows that we are making progress, which is saving lives.
We're calling on everyone to stay vigilant, keep spreading the word, and
remember to never leave a child alone in a car and to look before you
lock."

The survey further found that:

Increased awareness was primarily among older, higher-educated and
higher-income groups (so called "high information" groups), such as men 55
and older (up 32 percent), and suburban and college-educated women (up 28
percent). Sixty-two percent of parents and transporters of children six
years old and younger said that they are now less likely to let a child
stay in a parked, locked car because of what they have seen, read, or heard
about child heatstroke in vehicles. Thirty percent of these parents and
transporters say they are neither more nor less likely to leave their
children in a locked car, because they never would have done so in the
first place. With regard to bystanders, the survey found that 74 percent of
adults said they are more likely to intervene if they see a child in a hot
vehicle based on what they have seen, read, or heard recently. Groups which
are most represented in this category -- many of them classified as "lower
information" -- include urban women (87 percent more likely to take
action), African Americans (87 percent), women with less than a college
education and women with income under $60,000 (both 86 percent). The
actions this group would take to help children in vehicles closely track
with the April survey (call the police/911; attempt to rescue the child by
breaking in to the car; report the situation to the store manager/security,
etc.) but with a slight increase in those saying they would break into the
vehicle to rescue the child. Parents, caregivers and bystanders are
encouraged to help reduce the number of heatstroke deaths by remembering to
ACT.

A: Avoid heatstroke-related injury and death by never leaving your child
alone in a car, not even for a minute. And make sure to keep your car
locked when you're not in it so kids don't get in on their own. C: Create
reminders by putting something on the backseat of your car next to your
child such as a briefcase, a purse or a cell phone that is needed at your
final destination. This is especially important if you're not following
your normal routine. T: Take action. If you see a child alone in a car,
call 911. Emergency personnel want you to call. They are trained to respond
to these situations. One call could save a life. The survey results will be
available at It's That Serious .